Voltage, Current and Resistance Lets Review Voltage, Current and Resistance

Voltage is an electric force that causes free electrons to move from one atom to another. Just like water needs pressure to force it through a hose, electrical current needs some force to make it flow. A volt is the measure of electric pressure. Voltage is usually supplied by a battery or a generator. The scientific symbol for voltage is the letter “V“

Current is electricity in motion. measures the amount of electrons that can flow through a material like a conductor. Electrical current is measured in amperes or "amps" for short. Amps are similar to the amount of water flowing through a hose in a certain amount of time. Instead, it is the amount of electricity flowing through a wire.

Resistance - Resistance measures how well a material or object conducts electricity. Low resistance means the object conducts electricity well, high resistance means the object does not conduct electricity well.

When current flows through a conductor it creates heat because of resistance. Resistance is how tight the material is holding the electrons. You may notice that a cord from an appliance feels warm after running for a long time - that is the amperage flowing in the circuit. The more amps moving, the more heat produced. When a wire carries too many amps for its size, it becomes "overloaded" and the insulation can melt and cause a fire or shock you if you touch it. That's why it is important to have the correct wire size. The measurement of resistance is called ohms (“R”)